Mechanical movement



March 7, 1944. ROSE 2,343,244

MECHANI CAL MOVEMENT Filed July 20, 1942 l llllll lll i l Z'mventor fiQ /VAY 1415/1 57 Par/5 Patented Mar. 7, 1944 OFFICE MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Henry Lasenby Rose, Burlington, Ontario,

Oanad Application July 20, 1942, Serial No. 451,637

In Canada June 29, 1942 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanical moveoperatively connected or coupled together in parallel but non-co-axial, or spaced relationship so that both shafts will operate as a single line of shafting.

The objects of the invention are to provide a coupling whereby one rotatable object may drive another rotatable object when the longitudinal axes of both objects are parallel but non-co-axial.

Thus, a rotating shaft, for instance, will rotate another shaft even if their respective longitudinal axes are not co-axial.

As will be evident, the mechanical movement of the present invention may take the form of two shafts journalled in parallelism but capable of relative movement to vary their relative offset spacing, one shaft driving the other.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of two shafts coupled together in accordanc with the present invention, such arrangement of parts as shown being illustrative of one form of the means capable of realizing the mechanical movement of the invention, parts being broken away;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the coupling elements shown in Figure 1, parts being broken away;

Figure 3 is amore or less diagrammatic view on about line 33 in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the shafts in co-axial relationship, parts being broken away.

Referring now by numerals to the drawing, in and II indicate two shafts which are suitably journalled in parallel but spaced or ofiset relationship. To the spaced, adjacent ends of the shafts l0 and II, are rigidly secured members l2 and I3, respectively. Conveniently, the members l2 and 13 are circular in form and are recessed or cupped on their outer faces, as at M, and include a wall 15 and a peripheral wall or flange 16 the end of which is recessed to define a shoulder 11.

Secured to the members l2 and I3, and seated on the shoulders 11, are discs or plates l8 and I9, respectively.

The arrangement is such that a clearance is rovided asat 20, between the adjacent, parallel faces 2! of the discs when secured to their respective supporting members l2 and I3. The arrangement is also such that the faces 2| are at right ,angles to the axes of the shafts.

Conveniently, the disc I8 may be secured to its associated or supporting member l2 as by studs 22 inserted through bosses 23 formed on the member and threaded at one end into the disc, and receiving at the other end a nut 24. The disc l9 may be similarly secured to its associated member I 3.

The discs 18 and I9 are similarly formed, and each includes a number of elongated recesses. or more particularly slots 25, of which three are shown. The opposite ends of the slots are preferably defined by semicircles the diameter of which is equal to the width of the slot.

The slots 25 are evenly spaced circumferentially of the disc, and are also successively similarly disposed with respect to the centre of the disc. This is to say, a circle C having as its centre, the centre of the disc, would intersect the longitudinal axis LL of each slot at mid-length thereof, and the points of intersection of the circle with the axes of all three slots would define the corners of an equilateral triangle T, the three sides of which would lie in the longitudinal axes of all three slots, respectively.

While both discs I 8 and [9 are similarly formed, as aforesaid, they are secured to their associated members [2 and I3, respectively, in reversed relationship so that, as best shown in Figure 4, the slots in one disc are angularly disposed or directed with respect to the slots in the other disc.

To impart rotation to, say the disc l9 (and therefore to the shaft H), by the rotation of the disc l8 (and therefore the shaft [0), coupling elements, such as pins or roller 21, may be used. The pin or roller, shown in Figure 2, may comprise a bolt 28 having a head 29 and nut 30. Journalled on the shank of the bolt are two tubular members or sleeves 3| held in spaced-apart relationship by a pair of washers 32. A washer 33 is used between the head 29 and the adjacent end of the adjacent sleeve 3|. A washer 34 is preferably used between the nut 30 and the adjacent end of the adjacent sleeve 3|. The washers 32 and 33 are of a diameter larger than the width of the slot 25, so that the pin or roller 27, as a coupling element or unit, is retained in the disgs l8 and I9, while being free to slide in the slo s.

If the shafts It and H are not co-axial but in spaced relationship, as shown in Figure 1, the coupling elements 21 will move back and forth in their associated slots, as one shaft, say the driving shaft, is rotated to impart rotation to the other, or driven shaft.

While, as shown, three slots 25 and three pins 2'! are used as the recommended minimum number, their number may be increased within. the capacity of the disc to accommodate, but the device would not operate with four such slots since the slots in one disc would then be at right angles with the slots in the other disc.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of'tl'ie inv''n without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shownjand described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

In com ination a; nai- -.,.o, ,ha ts,. idshaft having adjacent ends, a discfixed on the adjacent endofeach shafts-having slotsjtherein extending from the centralkportion of, the disc outwardly toward the rim of the disc 'theslots On, one "disc 2. In combination a pair of shafts, said lshaits having adjacentfends, a disc fixed on theadj'a'cent end of each shaftv haying slots thereiniexten'ding from the 'central portion of the disc'outwardly having adjacent ends, 'a-disc fixed on the adjacent end of each shaft having slots therein extending.

lo irom the central portion of the disc outwardly toward the rim of the disc, the slots on one disc intersecting the slots on the other disc at an acute angle, pins extending through the inter- ]Isect'ing slots, the slots in each disc being at least three in number and symmetrically spaced on IQPRQWQ Sides of the disc, and means on said shafts to hold said pins from movement out of said slots.

"4. Incornbination a pair of shafts, said shafts liav needieqemie d a fi n t a c end of each shaft having slots therein extending immo le n a qr ion f t w utwar .iaward the r m the @15 t e. l t Q n is inte t the lqtsrn er ep her d at. an

,aeu efen fa in exte d n ,t bu t e, intefsecting slots the slotsin each disc havingthe longitudinal axes parallerto and spaced from radial lines extending from the centers of said.

gliscsLand means on said shafts to hold said pins from, movement out of said slots.

Hater LAsEnBY ease. 

